Standard 1: Vision and Purpose

The school establishes and communicates a shared purpose and direction for improving the performance of

students and the effectiveness of the school.external image blueline.gif

QUALITY SCHOOL INDICATORS

In fulfillment of this standard, the school:
  • 1.1 Establishes a vision for the school in collaboration with its stakeholders
  • 1.2 Communicates the vision and purpose to build stakeholder understanding and support
  • 1.3 Identifies goals to advance the vision
  • 1.4 Develops and continuously maintains a profile of the school, its students, and the community
  • 1.5 Ensures that the school’s vision and purpose guide the teaching and learning process
  • 1.6 Reviews its vision and purpose systematically and revises them when appropriate

IMPACT STATEMENT

A school is successful in meeting this standard when it commits to a shared purpose and direction. The school
establishes expectations for student learning aligned with the school’s vision that is supported by school personnel
and external stakeholders. These expectations serve as the focus for assessing student performance and school
effectiveness. The school’s vision guides allocations of time and human, material, and fiscal resources.


While the process may vary, researchers agree that successful schools begin by clearly identifying and communicating ambitious goals, then implementing and institutionalizing those goals with broad
consensus from essential stakeholders (Bryk, Lee, and Holland 1993; Chubb and Moe 1990; Newmann and Wehlage 1995).